Phoenix man uses starving dog as bait to win back ex-girlfriend

PHOENIX -- A Phoenix man starved his dog to death and sent a graphic image
of the emaciated canine to an ex-girlfriend to try to win her back, authorities
said Thursday.

Luis Moreno, 38, was arrested Wednesday after he turned over his pit bull
terrier named Wiggles to animal control as a stray when the ex-girlfriend
refused all advances, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said.

Moreno and his girlfriend adopted Wiggles in 2008, according to deputies. By 2012, couple broke up, and Moreno kept Wiggles.

He began calling and texting his ex-girlfriend, trying to reconcile and when
his advances didn't work, Moreno resorted to using Wiggles as bait.

Moreno at one point sent a text message that read: "Wiggles is dead, I hope
your happy (expletive)," authorities said.

He also sent her a picture of the starving dog as a last-ditch effort to save
the relationship.